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Tag: alcoholic beverages

  • Brad Pitt’s rep calls Angelina Jolie’s latest allegations about 2016 airplane incident ‘completely untrue’ | CNN

    Brad Pitt’s rep calls Angelina Jolie’s latest allegations about 2016 airplane incident ‘completely untrue’ | CNN

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    CNN
     — 

    A countersuit filed Tuesday by actress Angelina Jolie against her ex-husband Brad Pitt includes more information about an alleged physical altercation between the former couple that took place on a plane in 2016.

    In a statement to CNN, a representative for Pitt called the latest allegations “completely untrue.”

    Jolie and Pitt are battling over Jolie’s sale of her stake in their joint French winery, Chateau Miraval. Jolie sold her half of the winery in 2021 to Tenute del Mondo, a subsidiary of Stoli Group, controlled by Russian oligarch Yuri Shefler.

    Pitt sued Jolie in February, claiming that he and Jolie had an agreement that neither would sell without the other’s consent.

    Jolie claims in her countersuit that there was never any such agreement and that she sold her portion of the winery in an effort to have “financial independence” from Pitt and to “have some form of peace and closure to this deeply painful and traumatic chapter of her and their children’s lives.”

    In the court documents, obtained by CNN, Jolie also shares more details about an alleged incident on a private plane on September 14, 2016, five days before she filed for divorce.

    In a section of Jolie’s counterclaim titled “Why Jolie separated from Pitt,” the document alleges that, before arriving to the airport, Pitt got into an argument with one of their six children, who at the time were between the ages of 8 and 15. The filing goes on to allege that on the plane Jolie asked Pitt “what was wrong?” and that Pitt went on to verbally attack her and then an hour and a half later “pulled” her into the bathroom, “grabbed Jolie by the head and shook her, and then grabbed her shoulders and shook her again before pushing her into the bathroom wall.”

    The claim also alleges, “Pitt choked one of the children and struck another in the face. Some of the children pleaded with Pitt to stop. They were all frightened. Many were crying.”

    In a statement provided to CNN on Tuesday, a representative for Pitt said: “(Jolie’s) story continues to evolve each time she tells it with new, unsubstantiated claims. Brad has accepted responsibility for what he did but will not for things he didn’t do. These new allegations are completely untrue.”

    CNN previously reported some of these details from a heavily redacted FBI report in August.

    Pitt was not arrested or charged in connection with the incident after the FBI completed an investigation in 2016.

    “In response to allegations made following a flight within the special aircraft jurisdiction of the United States which landed in Los Angeles carrying Mr. Brad Pitt and his children, the FBI has conducted a review of the circumstances and will not pursue further investigation. No charges have been filed in this matter,” FBI spokeswoman Laura Eimiller said in a statement to CNN at the time.

    “All parties have had this information for nearly six years and was used in previous legal proceedings. There is nothing new here and serves no purpose other than being a media stunt meant to inflict pain,” a source close to Pitt said of the August report.

    CNN has reached out to representatives for Jolie regarding the most recent court filing, which states that during the plane incident, Pitt allegedly “lunged at his own child and Jolie grabbed him from behind to stop him. To get Jolie off his back, Pitt threw himself backwards into the airplane’s seats injuring Jolie’s back and elbow.”

    The court documents also claim that the children “rushed in and all bravely tried to protect each other” and that Jolie and the children “sat still and silent under blankets. Nobody dared to go to the bathroom.”

    For this reason, the legal documents state, Jolie and her six children have not been able to return to Chateau Miraval due to the “pain Pitt inflicted on the family that day.”

    Many of the details in Jolie’s countersuit echo those made in a countersuit filed last month by Nouvel LLC, Jolie’s former company.

    In his earlier claim, Pitt had alleged that Jolie “did nothing to drive (the) growth” of the business, which he turned into a “multimillion dollar international success story.”

    In its countersuit, Nouvel disputed this, saying “Pitt refused to grant Jolie or Nouvel equal access to Chateau Miraval’s records or an equal voice over management,” effectively “holding the most significant part of her net worth hostage.”

    Jolie’s countersuit adds that “like other couples,” the two “divided their responsibilities and generally split costs.”

    “Jolie made her career as an actor and director secondary to her primary responsibility of raising the children. She also oversaw the day-to-day running of the Jolie-Pitt Foundation, to which she not only contributed substantial amounts of time but also substantial amounts of cash (over twice what Pitt contributed),” the document states. “Pitt continued with his Hollywood career and took primary responsibility for renovating the chateau.”

    She also claims that she repeatedly tried to sell her stake in the winery to Pitt, as recently as last year and that Pitt was going to buy her portion for $54.5 million in February but that Pitt “demanded” she sign a broad non-disparagement clause “that would prohibit Jolie from discussing outside of court any of Pitt’s personal conduct toward her or the family,” inherently including the allegations of abuse from the 2016 incident.

    Jolie claims that she refused to sign this clause and called it “an abusive and controlling deal-breaker.”

    The counterclaim asks the court to declare Jolie’s sale of her stake final so that the actress can “move on from the winery and chateau.”

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  • Dylan Mulvaney says Bud Light’s backlash response was ‘worse than not hiring a trans person at all’ | CNN Business

    Dylan Mulvaney says Bud Light’s backlash response was ‘worse than not hiring a trans person at all’ | CNN Business

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    New York
    CNN
     — 

    Dylan Mulvaney on Thursday broke her silence about the fallout that occurred after the trans influencer made two Instagram posts sponsored by Bud Light earlier this year.

    Bud Light’s sponsorship of an April 1 Instagram post by Mulvaney set off a firestorm of anti-trans backlash and calls for a boycott. Mulvaney herself also faced a wave of hate and violent threats.

    Now, in a video posted to Instagram Thursday, Mulvaney is calling on Bud Light and other companies not only to work with trans and other queer influencers, but to support them through the process, even as trans rights are under fire across the country and corporations face anti-LGBTQ+ campaigns.

    Mulvaney said she has “been scared to leave my house, and I have been ridiculed in public, I have been followed,” and she criticized Bud Light for not standing by her and the partnership. She said the company never reached out to her in the wake of the backlash.

    “For a company to hire a trans person and then not publicly stand by them is worse in my opinion than not hiring a trans person at all because it gives customers permission to be as transphobic and hateful as they want,” Mulvaney said. “And the hate doesn’t end with me, it has serious and grave consequences for the rest of our community.”

    When the backlash ignited in April, Bud Light first responded with a straightforward explanation of its relationship with social media influencers like Mulvaney. But later it released a vague statement from the CEO that failed to offer support for Mulvaney or the trans community. Bud Light sales dropped in the ensuing weeks, the company lost its top rating from a major LGBTQ+ nonprofit and it placed two marketing executives on leave.

    The controversy over the sponsored posts came as trans rights are under attack. Over 400 anti-LGBTQ+ bills were introduced in state legislatures this year through April 3, according to American Civil Liberties Union, including ones restricting access to gender-affirming care for trans youth. Generally, transgender people are more than four times as likely to be victims of violent crime than cisgender people, according to a study from the UCLA School of Law.

    The Bud Light backlash also coincided with anti-LGBTQ+ campaigns against other big brands, including Target.

    Mulvaney’s statement followed a Wednesday appearance by Brendan Whitworth, CEO of Bud Light owner Anheuser-Busch, on CBS Mornings, in which he repeated the company’s recent statements about wanting to “focus on what we do best, which is brewing great beer for everyone,” and did not directly answer a question about whether the campaign was a mistake.

    “I think the conversation surrounding Bud Light has moved away from beer, and the conversation has become divisive, and Bud Light really does not belong there, Bud Light should be about bringing people together,” Whitworth said.

    In her video, Mulvaney appeared to address that sentiment, saying, “supporting trans people, it shouldn’t be political.”

    “There should be nothing controversial or divisive about working with us, and I know it’s possible because I’ve worked with some fantastic companies who care,” Mulvaney said. “But caring about the LGBTQ+ community requires a lot more than just a donation somewhere during Pride month.”

    She added: “We’re customers, too, I know a lot of trans and queer people who love beer.”

    In a statement responding to Mulvaney’s video, an Anheuser-Busch spokesperson told CNN on Thursday that, “we remain committed to the programs and partnerships we have forged over decades with organizations across a number of communities, including those in the LGBTQ+ community. The privacy and safety of our employees and our partners is always our top priority. As we move forward, we will focus on what we do best — brewing great beer for everyone and earning our place in moments that matter to our consumers.”

    –CNN’s Danielle Wiener-Bronner contributed to this report.

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  • Chef Josie Smith-Malave Signed as National Brand Ambassador for Live Proud Vodka

    Chef Josie Smith-Malave Signed as National Brand Ambassador for Live Proud Vodka

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    Four-time ‘Top Chef’ participant partners with premium vodka brand to drive human and civil rights awareness

    Press Release



    updated: Apr 2, 2018

    Live Proud Spirits, producers of Live Proud Vodka, are pleased to announce a partnership with restaurateur Chef Josie Smith-Malave, who appeared on four seasons of Emmy Award-winning Bravo TV series “Top Chef.” Based in South Florida, Chef Josie has taken on the position of National Brand Ambassador for the company, effective immediately.

    “I’m so excited by the partnership with Live Proud! Not only do they have a spectacular product, but this relationship allows me to work with a business that consciously puts its money where its mouth is and really gives back,” said Smith-Malave.

    Live Proud Spirits launched their flagship brand Live Proud Vodka, a six-time distilled corn vodka crafted in the USA, at the end of 2017. The company supports human and civil rights charities by donating $1 of every bottle sold to nationally recognized charities such as the American Civil Liberties Union and OnePulse Foundation. Live Proud Vodka retails for $25 and is currently sold in Florida, New Jersey, New York and its home state of Indiana.

    Chef Josie continued, “The money that goes to support these charities is vital, and as a member of the LGBTQ community and the daughter of immigrants, the message behind the brand is so much bigger than that. It’s about everyone being who they are and making the conscious choice to live proud.”

    Chef Josie’s role with Live Proud as National Brand Ambassador will be to build affinity and generate awareness for the brand and its causes through digital and traditional media channels, and special events. Chef Smith-Malave currently owns and operates Bubbles + Pearls, a champagne and oyster bar in Wilton Manors, Florida.

    Beth Hohlier, CEO & founder of Live Proud Spirits, said, “We couldn’t have found a better person to represent us. Chef Josie’s positivity, energy and dedication are just unparalleled. She’s an amazingly passionate person and that comes through in everything she does.”

    “As an LGBT-owned business at this time in American history, I think it’s really important to emphasize that our message is one of acceptance and inclusion,” Ms. Hohlier continued. “We need to remind ourselves daily that the things that bind us are stronger than the things that divide us, regardless of gender identity, sexual orientation, race, religion or political affiliation.” 

    “It’s not our differences separating us,” added Chef Josie, “it’s forgetting we are all connected to each other; forgetting that we are all humans.“

     Live Proud Spirits

    Live Proud Spirits Inc. is a producer of premium spirits brands founded in 2017. The company’s mission is to promote human and civil rights in the United States of America through a lifestyle brand focused on community, unity and the inclusion of all people. Live Proud stands for strength and power exhibited by standing united, regardless of race, color, religion, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, ancestry or age. Live Proud stands for giving to those who help to protect and support your rights. Stand United. Live Proud. Drink Responsibly.

    www.liveproud.com

    Chef Josie Smith-Malave

     Josie Smith-Malave, is a conscious celebrity chef and restaurateur. This bohemian chef and stand-out competitor appeared on four seasons of Bravo TV’s “Top Chef.” The Sun Sentinel named her “Best Chef in South Florida 2017.” Chef Josie honed her culinary talents working in New York City under renowned chefs Wylie Dufresne, Jean-Georges Vongrichten, Caroline Fidanza, Dan Silverman and Walter Hinds followed by a San Francisco residence where her popular Global Soul Corner™ thrilled the discriminating urban diners. She is now proud owner of Bubbles + Pearls, a champagne & oyster bar in the thriving Fort Lauderdale neighborhood of Wilton Manors. A major component to Chef Josie’s “eat well, live happy” philosophy is viewing life as a contribution. She is devoted to empowering kids, ending hunger and strengthening communities. Her vehicles are creativity, food and music, which all contribute to her assertion that “FOOD CONNECTS US ALL.”

    For press and trade inquiries contact:

    Tom Michaelsen
    tom@whaleboneconsulting.com

    Live Proud Spirits
    ​info@liveproud.com

    Source: Live Proud Spirits Inc.

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